Oilers Renew ECHL Affiliation with Stockton

Edmonton Oilers Assistant General Manager Scott Howson announced today that the Oilers have renewed a one-year affiliation agreement with the Stockton Thunder for the 2007-08 ECHL season.

“We are pleased to extend our agreement for another year with Stockton,” said Howson. “The experience for our players from last season was positive and we look forward to developing more players in the upcoming season.”

A total of eight Oilers prospects saw ice-time with the Thunder in 2006-07, including defenceman Bryan Young, who became the first player in Stockton history to earn a call-up to the NHL. Other Oilers prospects to play for Stockton last year were goaltender Devan Dubnyk, who appeared in the 2007 ECHL All-Star Game, and forwards Troy Bodie, Stephane Goulet, Brock Radunske, Liam Reddox, Tim Sestito and Tyler Spurgeon.

The Thunder compiled a 38-24-10 record under head coach Chris Cichocki in 2006-07 to finish in third place in the Pacific Division of the ECHL’s National Conference. Stockton lost its ECHL conference quarter-final series in six games to Idaho.

Stockton has led the ECHL in attendance for the last two seasons, drawing a league-high 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. The Thunder will host the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game.